The faith of Abraham

1. Suppose someone asked you this question:

2. What man is so important in the world’s history that three major religions recognize him?

3. What man is recognized by three world-famous religions?

4. The correct answer is not Jesus; it is Abraham.

5. Abraham is recognized in Judaism. He is recognized in Islam. He is also recognized in Christianity.

6. Paul referred to Abraham as the “father of all them that believe” (Rom. 4:11).

7. This passage is one of the texts that joins the name of Abraham with faith.

8. Tonight this is the subject under consideration – Abraham and faith.

9. Throughout the 4^th chapter of Romans we have information on Abraham’s faith (verses 3, 9, 11, 16-22).

10. When writing to the Galatians this man’s faith is again in the forefront (Gal. 3:7-9).

11. Even James, when he spoke of saving faith, referred to Abraham (Jas. 2:21-23).

WHY WAS ABRAHAM SO GREAT? WHAT WAS SO SPECTACULAR ABOUT HIS FAITH?

a) Sometimes we can look at people and think they are just naturally great; they were just born with a leg up on the rest of the world.

b) A lot of times people are not great because of natural talent or abilities.

c) Great people are often great because they received some type of help.

d) Abraham did have great faith, but he had some assistance.

2) Abraham is featured several times in Genesis, some of which are Gen. 12, 13, and 15.

3) Of these three chapters we will read from Gen. 15—Gen. 15:7.

a) The first verse in Gen. 15 says God appeared to Abraham in a “vision.”

b) It was the “word of Jehovah” that came to this man (verse 4).

c) Let’s read verse 7 – READ. This was a direct promise from God and it helped with Abraham’s faith.

d) This was not Abraham’s only contact with God; there had been some previous contact too.

e) At this point Gen. 15:6 says Abraham had faith—he had great faith.

4) Abraham’s faith was not something that was innate (instinctive) within himself.

5) Abraham’s faith was based upon divine revelation and information.

6) Think back to the well known words in Gen. 12:1-4.

7) God made great promises; God said He would “bless” Abraham.

8) Abraham would have a great family and a great nation would come from him.

9) There is a definite link between Abraham’s faith and the divine revelation he received from God.

10) If Abraham’s faith was great because of what he received from God, we ought to ask about our day and time.

11) Does God still offer any kind of communication or revelation today so we too can have faith?

12) If He does, is it the same type of communication or is it somehow different?

a) Heb. 1:1 says God in previous times used different means to communicate with people.

b) This is certainly true in the time and life of Abraham.

c) Now Heb. 1:1 says God uses “His Son” to communicate to the world.

d) It might be said that the Son of God is the Father’s mouthpiece.

e) When the transfiguration occurred, this point was made quite emphatically.

f) Jesus, Moses and Elijah appeared.

g) Peter wanted to make a little booth for all three.

h) A voice from heaven said, “hear ye Him” (speaking of the Lord).

i) Jesus is heaven’s way of communicating to the world.

13) Christ selected apostles to help write the last phase of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit guided these men.

14) What these men recorded is the basis for our faith.

15) Rom. 10:17 refers to “faith.” Faith—that is the same thing Abraham had and was commended for.

16) How did Abraham get his faith? He “heard God” (Gen. 12, 15).

17) Rom. 10:17 says faith “comes by hearing the word of God” or the “word of Christ.”

18) The tool Abraham used to have great faith is the same tool we have today.

19) It is in a different form and format, but it is exactly the same (i.e. revelation from God).

a) John tells us (Jn. 20:30-31) that information was recorded so we “might believe.”

b) We cannot have faith (or true and accurate faith) without the Scriptures.

c) God’s word and its dependability are absolutely crucial.

d) Consider a small point from the life of Abraham (Heb. 11:9-10).

e) Abraham went to the land of promise, but when he got there it was occupied by others.

f) Imagine that someone says to us, “I am giving you a new car. It’s the red 4 door around back.”

g) We go to the location, and we find someone sitting in the red car with 4 doors.

h) What would our initial reaction be? We would probably think, “Hey, that is my car.”

i) Abraham went to “his land” and found it occupied. Seeing that was a test of faith.

j) Abraham didn’t try to “buy up all his land” or even start a war to move out the occupants.

k) He trusted in God to keep His promises even thought he died without getting the land.

20) Faith is the beginning point for us; without it we cannot please God—Heb. 11:6.

21) Faith alone is not enough to be a child of God.

22) Abraham had faith, but Jas. 2:21 says Abraham was “justified by works.”

23) A man is “justified by works and not faith alone” (Jas. 2:24).

24) Lots of people have struggled with the second chapter of James.

25) What James said is not too popular in a “faith alone” culture such as ours.

a) When people see the word “work” or “works,” they instantly think it means earning salvation.

b) We “work for a check” and believe we “earn our money.”

c) The Bible does understand this principle but it says this is not how salvation operates.

d) Titus 3:5 says we are not saved by righteous works.

e) Good deeds cannot and will not save, but good deeds are not the same as being obedient.

26) James 2 tells us Abraham’s faith was obedient; it was active.

27) Abraham had to leave his home (Heb. 11:8).

a) How many here have ever left a home?

b) Was it work to leave a home? Abraham had to live in a “foreign land” (Heb. 11:9-10).

c) Have we ever moved into a new community? Was any work involved in the process?

d) We may have had all kinds of faith regarding a move. Faith without works will not get us moved.

28) Many turn to the book of Romans to prove faith alone, but that is a poor book to choose.

29) When Paul started Romans (1:5) he spoke about “obedient faith.

30) When he closed this book (16:26) he again referred to “obedient faith.”

31) About a third of the way through Romans he said we “obey from the heart the doctrine of Christ” (Rom. 6:17).

32) A lot of our society seems to believe in a “passive” faith.

33) That type of faith is demonic faith. James said “even the demons believe and tremble.”

34) I am not hesitant to say that when someone preaches “faith alone” they are preaching a Satanic faith.

35) We are saved by a system of faith, but it is not passive. Faith is not just mental belief or acceptance.

ABRAHAM WAS GREAT BECAUSE HE NOT ONLY HAD FAITH BUT BECAUSE HE HAD THE RIGHT KIND OF FAITH (IT WAS LIVING, MOVING AND INCREASING).

a) As we look at Abraham’s faith we might be inclined to think it was always great.

b) Abraham had great faith, but he had to “grow” it.

c) There were times in the life of Abraham that his faith was weak; it faltered.

d) When God said he and his wife would have children, Abraham had doubts (Gen. 16:1-4).

e) Abraham and Sarah felt like they had to help God fulfill His word; they didn’t have full faith.

f) God said this alternative was not the right way; Abraham would have a son through Sarah.

g) 24 years passed before the promise of having a child through Sarah was fulfilled.

i) God didn’t say the first time this couple came together after the promise Sarah would conceive.

ii) Conception didn’t happen in the first year, the first 5 years, the first ten years, or the first 20 years.

iii) Imagine a promise to conceive but it doesn’t come true for almost 25 years.

iv) Few people in the world would keep faith year after year. This couple finally did..

h) For a time, pregnancy was even outlandish to Abraham and Sarah

i) Their faith grew and finally they accepted the promise and waited.

j) After the birth, we see that the faith had grown some more.

k) Heb. 11:17-19 says that if Abraham had slain Isaac, he believed God would raise him from the dead.

i) Something happened between having a son and taking Isaac to a place of sacrifice.

ii) Abraham had grown in his understanding of God as well as his belief.

iii) Jas. 2:23 says Abraham was a “friend of God.”

iv) Friends generally know a little something about each other.

v) Abraham learned about God and it significantly increased His belief; such is also true with us.

vi) As we learn more and more about the Bible, our faith should grow and grow.

2) In the New Testament this same truth is taught.

3) Jesus selected certain men to be apostles and these men witnessed some pretty stupendous things.

4) They heard teachings like had never been heard before.

5) They saw sick people and those who had departed from this life restored to an earthly existence.

6) Early in their careers they had limited faith and were afraid.

7) Once they are on a boat during a storm (Mt. 8:25-26); they thought they would perish.

8) Jesus said they had “little faith.”

9) By the time Jesus was back in heaven, they had “great boldness” (Acts 4:13).

10) Abraham had faith even though he must have been ridiculed for it.

a) What does “Abraham mean”? Father of many nations.

b) Imagine what people thought when people heard that name and knew its meaning.

c) “Hey Abraham, how many children do you have?” None.

d) “Abraham, how are you going to do any nation building with no offspring?”

e) We rarely think that Abraham may have faced persecution, but it most likely did.

11) Abraham is noted for his faith because he had great faith.

12) A lot of people have made New Years resolutions.

13) Some want to do more of something and others want to do less of something.

14) One goal we can have is to “increase our faith.”

15) Jesus’ disciples once said “increase our faith” (Lk. 17:5).

16) A lot of people want a better faith but really don’t know how to get it.

17) Abraham’s life shows us – depend upon divine revelation and move on through life.

18) So many are looking for the silver bullet to get or increase faith.

19) For more than 2,000 years faith comes and increases by the same process—the Word of God.

20) Tonight we hope you have faith because of God’s word.